RED VELVET CAKE IN A MUG: Dessert for One

I haven't posted many Cake in a Mug recipes (Cakes for 1) since the pandemic, but I was talking with a friend the other day whose spouse does not eat sweets. She was craving something easy and simple ... and just enough for one, so she wouldn't have the temptation to eat an entire cake. The solution? Cake in a Mug. 

Here's a delicious and easy recipe for Red Velvet Cake in a Mug. I use Wilton's red food coloring (natural) rather than the ones in the small bottles, but it's up to you. Looking for a different Cake in a Mug recipe? Search my blog. :-) FYI: you can use a ramekin or mug. Both work. Just make sure the container is microwave safe.

RED VELVET CAKE IN A MUG

Ingredients

4 Tbsp all purpose flour 
2 Tbsp sugar 
1 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder 
1/4 tsp baking powder 
3 Tbsp whole milk 
1/4 tsp white vinegar 
1/2 Tbsp vegetable oil (I used canola oil)
Red Food coloring

Directions

Combine flour, sugar, cocoa powder, and baking power in mug. Stir in milk, vinegar, and oil. Slowly stir in food coloring until you like the color. It is red velvet cake, after all. Maybe 4 drops? 

Microwave for 60 seconds, and continue microwaving 10 second increments until cooked through.  Top with powdered sugar. OK, you might want to top with cream cheese frosting, but that's another step. You can always top with whipped cream.

BLACK FOREST MUG CAKE: National Black Forest Cake Day

Photo: CakeontheRun

Yesterday was Black Forest Cake Day, and I posted a recipe for a variation: Black Forest Pie. It's a very retro recipe. But maybe you do want Black Forest Cake, but you only want a single serving, not a whole cake. Well here's a super easy recipe for Black Forest Mug Cake from Cake on the Run via the Great British Bake-Off newsletter. I love Mug Cakes. Quick and Easy..and delicious! Make this tonight! 

BLACK FOREST MUG CAKE

(serves 1) 

Ingredients 

For the Cake.

3 heaped Tbsp plain flour 

1/3 tsp baking powder 

1 Tbsp butter 

3 tbsp milk 

1 tsp cocoa powder or drinking chocolate 

2 Tbsp sugar 

For the Filling. 2 Tbsp thick cream or yoghurt 

For the Filling 1 Tbsp cherry jam 

Directions

Put all of the cake ingredients into a large mug. 

Mix until smooth and creamy. 

Microwave on high for 90 seconds. 

Slice in half and sandwich with jam and cream. 

Stack sponges on top of each other and top with more jam and cream.

CHOCOLATE BUTTERSCOTCH PUDDING CAKE IN A MUG: National Butterscotch Pudding Day

Today is National Butterscotch Pudding Day, and of course, it's even better with Chocolate. You can make Butterscotch Pudding from scratch or you can use a Box Mix. Add some chocolate chips.

Or....

Want to make something more fun to celebrate the day? Try this recipe from Rachael Ray for Chocolate Butterscotch Pudding Mug Cake. It's a different Cake in a Mug recipe. Under five minutes in the microwave!

Chocolate Butterscotch Pudding Mug Cake

Ingredients
1 egg
3 Tbsp milk
3 Tbsp Canola oil
1/8 tsp vanilla extract
1/8 tsp baking powder
4 Tbsp light brown sugar
2 Tbsp instant butterscotch pudding powder
4 Tbsp all purpose flour
2 Tbsp dark bittersweet chocolate chips
  
Optional Frosting:
1 box of prepared butterscotch pudding mixed with store bought chocolate frosting

Directions
Prepare mug by coating inside lightly with cooking spray. Pour all dry ingredients into bowl.
Beat egg first with spoon and mix in other liquid ingredients.
Add dry ingredients and chocolate chips and mix until you’ve removed all lumps.
Pour batter into mug (don't fill more than halfway) and smooth top with spoon.
Thump mug firmly on tabletop six times to remove excess air bubbles.
Place mug on top of microwaveable small plate or saucer.
Bake for 3-4 minutes. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick in middle of microwave mug cake and removing toothpick. If toothpick is dry, mug cake is done.
Wait two minutes then run butter knife along inside of mug and tip cake into plate.
Position mug cake so slightly rounded top is on top.  

Optional: Frost whole chocolate chip butterscotch microwave mug cake with prepared butterscotch pudding chocolate frosting. I prefer to dust with a little powdered sugar. The cake is already pretty rich!

2 MINUTE OREO CAKE IN A MUG

I've posted a lot of Mug Cakes in the past few months since we've all been Sheltered-in-Place, but here's yet another! This one has been taking TikTok by storm, and it's absolutely terrific and so simple. It only has two ingredients: Oreos and Milk! It's not so much a recipe as throwing the two thing together. Want to get fancy? Substitute other flavored Oreos such as the new Tiramasu Oreos. 

2 MINUTE OREO CAKE IN A MUG

Put 6-8 Oreos in a mug (depends on size of your mug- I use a 1 cup Pyrex measuring cup).
Fill upd= half the mug with milk  (whatever kind of milk you prefer - whole milk, almond milk, oat milk?).
With a fork, crush up Oreos into small chunks. Continue crushing and then stir until you have a smooth batter with a few Oreo bits.
Microwave Mug for 1-2 minutes. Check at 1 minute.
Remove from microwave and eat!

This is bound to satisfy your need for a little Chocolate Goodness!

3 MINUTE S'MORES CAKE IN A MUG: Shelter in Place Chocolate Goodness

I've been posting a few 'short' recipes for single serving chocolate goodness to quench your craving while you're Sheltered-in-Place. Here's another recipe that is a bit of a twist on the 1 minute Cake in a Mug. You will love this!!! It's adapted from a recipe on The Food Network and How Sweet It is. As always, the final product and taste will only be as good as your ingredients -- but it's all about your personal taste budds, isn't it? This recipe is a bit more complicated than the traditional 1 Minute Mug Cake, but I think you'll enjoy the results so much more! This is sooo fudgy. And, you don't need to do this outdoors. This 3 Minute S'mores Cake in a Mug is fabulous any time.

3 Minute S'mores Cake in a Mug

Ingredients
2-3 Tbsp graham cracker crumbs
3 1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
2 Tbsp granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour (you can substitute all purpose flour but not regular whole wheat flour. It's too heavy)
2 Tbsp unsweetened DARK cocoa powder (Hershey's, but any cocoa will work) 
1/8 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
1-1/2 ounces chopped milk chocolate or chocolate chips
Marshmallow Fluff, Marshmallow Cream, or Marshmallows

Directions
Combine 3 Tbsp butter and 1 ounce of chocolate in small bowl, then melt in microwave for 20-30 seconds. Set aside.
In another bowl, combine remaining melted butter with 2-3 Tbsp graham cracker crumbs and stir until moistened. Press graham crumbs into bottom of mug.
In bowl. whisk egg, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Add in flour, baking powder, salt, and cocoa, stir until thick batter forms. Pour in melted butter and chocolate, mixing to combine. Fold in remaining chocolate chunks or chips.
Add half of mixture on top of graham crust, then add scoop of marshmallow fluff/cream or a few marshmallows.
Add remaining batter on top, then put in the microwave for 1 minute and 20 seconds to almost 2 minutes.
Remove and top with additional marshmallows (if you want).
You can pop it back in the microwave for 5-10 seconds to melt them, or torch with small flame, or pop them under the broiler for 10 seconds to toast. Sprinkle with graham crumbs!

Chocolate Butterscotch Pudding Mug Cake

Today is National Butterscotch Pudding Day, and of course, it's even better with Chocolate. You can make Butterscotch Pudding from scratch or you can use a Box Mix. Add some chocolate chips.

Want to make something more fun to celebrate the day? Try this adaptation from Rachael Ray's Chocolate Butterscotch Pudding Mug Cake. It's a different Cake in a Mug recipe. Under five minutes in the microwave! Adapted from Stacey J. Miller's 101 Recipes for Microwave Mug Cakes!

Chocolate Butterscotch Pudding Mug Cake

Ingredients
1 egg
3 Tbsp milk
3 Tbsp Canola oil
1/8 tsp Madagascar vanilla extract
1/8 tsp baking powder
4 Tbsp light brown sugar
2 Tbsp instant butterscotch pudding powder
4 Tbsp all purpose flour
2 Tbsp dark bittersweet chocolate chips
  
Optional Frosting:
1 box of prepared butterscotch pudding mixed with store bought chocolate frosting

Directions
Prepare mug by coating inside lightly with cooking spray. Pour all dry ingredients into bowl.
Beat egg first with spoon and mix in other liquid ingredients.
Add dry ingredients and chocolate chips and mix until you’ve removed all lumps.
Pour batter into mug (don't fill more than halfway) and smooth top with spoon.
Thump mug firmly on tabletop six times to remove excess air bubbles.
Place mug on top of microwaveable small plate or saucer.
Bake for 3-4 minutes. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick in middle of microwave mug cake and removing toothpick. If toothpick is dry, mug cake is done.
Wait two minutes then run butter knife along inside of mug and tip cake into plate.
Position mug cake so slightly rounded top is on top.  

Optional: Frost whole chocolate chip butterscotch microwave mug cake with prepared butterscotch pudding chocolate frosting. I prefer to dust with a little powdered sugar. The cake is already pretty rich!

Taza 5 Minute Chocolate Cake in a Mug

Since there's always chocolate at my house, I have no excuse for not baking a chocolate cake.. but suppose I don't really want to make an entire cake. Suppose it's just me? 5 Minute Cake in a Mug to the Rescue. I've posted other recipes for 5 Minute Cake in a Mug, but this recipe from Taza, my favorite daily chocolate, is exceptional. Well, Taza Chocolate is exceptional! I have made this with the Taza Chocolate Mexicano (70% dark), but for variety, you could use the Taza Chiptole Chocolate or the Taza Orange Mexicano disc. Whichever you choose, you'll end up with the perfect single serving cake!

Recipe from the Taza Recipe Library.

Taza 5 Minute Chocolate Cake in a Mug

Serves 1

Ingredients
2 Tbsp sweet butter
1 disc Taza Chocolate Mexicano, broken into several pieces
1 Tbsp sugar
1 large egg
1 Tbsp unsweetened Dark cocoa powder
Pinch of salt
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Directions
In large mug, place butter and chocolate and microwave for 45 seconds.
In separate bowl, whisk together sugar, egg, cocoa, salt, flour, and baking powder until smooth, then add to mug and whisk until fully incorporated.
Microwave on high for 1 minute, allow to cool for a few seconds, and eat!